I’m clueless about Iranian politics but is this guy high up in government (or whatever constitutes a government over there)?
Those were in the Caucasus I think, down Grozny way.
Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov was sanctioned by the European Union on Monday. Two days later, Forbes has learned from three sources in the yacht industry that one of his prized possessions—the 512-foot yacht Dilbar, valued at nearly $600 million—has been seized by German authorities in the northern city of Hamburg.
The ship has been in the Hamburg shipyards of German shipbuilding firm Blohm+Voss since late October for a refitting job. Sources who spoke to Forbes said that the German government froze the asset and that, likely as a result, Blohm+Voss employees who had been working on the yacht didn’t show up to work on Wednesday. Representatives for Blohm+Voss and Usmanov didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Usmanov purchased Dilbar in 2016 for a reported cost of $600 million from German shipbuilder Lürssen, which custom-built it for him over 52 months. The firm calls it “one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology.” At 15,917 tons, it’s the world’s largest motor yacht by gross tonnage, and is typically manned by a crew of 96 people. Dilbar boasts the largest swimming pool ever installed on a yacht as well as two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym. Its plush interiors have more than 1,000 sofa cushions and it can host up to 24 people in 12 suites.
That account has to be hacked.
They don't need optics, they live in a dictatorship, and a soon to be tinpot dictatorship
If there were ever an example of how utterly clueless the Russians are at optics, never mind basic norms of a free society, there it is.
That's going to cause problems in Iran! Ahmadinejad has gone waaay off script there. The Iranians are Russian allies. He knows what he's doing here. Cheeky!
It's amazing to see the amount of volunteers from other countries that are joining Ukraine's foreign legion. Hopefully they can have some sort of a positive impact.
Even worse tbh, not moving and not worried about being struck. Ukrainian military's offensive capabilities have been seriously degraded at this stage. Of course they will be able to continue a staunch defence, but if they are unable to disrupt preparations for a siege situation then they are in bother.
On that point, I suspect they've stopped to wait and see how the offensives play out in the southern cities once they've been captured - specifically the intensity of the insurgencies. That and its allowing them the opportunity to sort out logistical issues.
Murderous?
Would be amazing. But Russians will not elect anyone who isn't a "strong man". Abramovich comes off as a bit soft! He might be too old by the time Putin let's go of power.
See, Russia is bring the world together. 🤪
Relax Brah.
Usually when countries demand demilitarisation, it's from the big stuff. Ballistic missiles, new jets etc. Not Javlins and AKs. I don't trust that prick one bit, he speaks with forked tongue! but I think if that's the deal they have to go for it.
He's a murderous kleptomaniac who's deeply in bed with Putin.
Which I guess makes him an ideal candidate.
A correction. The military column is not moving. Sentinel radar images have shown that it is staying put for some reason.
At the ballot box and hopefully nowhere else. That's why we want to live in a democracy.
Russian police detaining survivor of siege of Leningrad
Thoughts on Abramovich one day being president of Russia? Idle speculation of course but probably be an excellent candidate or best of a bad lot candidate.
he’s rich, already a politician, good contacts in the west and wouldn’t approach anyone as a Soviet Union loving megalomaniac
Well to be fair the Ukrainians have won the propaganda and social media war. No contest. They're like a well honed instagram model, while Russia looks like the middle aged oullad asking his kids how to work his phone so he can share dad jokes with his mates.
Now the Unkrainians deserve to(and no, they're no angels on a few levels). Their nation was invaded by a nasty prick. If he had invaded the areas where alledged atrocities against Russians were taking place and took them, there would have been mucho tutting and this isn't on, but we wouldn't be in the mess the world is in now. Nope, he went full czar, cocksure of a swift victory and didn't read the room to a remarkably scary degree. To the point where he's running out of options for saving face with his subjects and moving back from a very dangerous precipice.
He's set in motion the bankrupty of his country, increased hardship of his people(though I personally believe this will give him more support) and exclusion from world politics and economics and travel not far off North Korea. If he is the smooth operator some think he is(and he was to a large extent) he needs to do something not stupid and quickly. I predict/hope there will be calls for 'peace talks' beyond the current for optics ones that will give him an out. That will include keeping the Eastern bits of Ukraine and some sort of promise of no NATO on their soil(I again personally suspect NATO will bluster, but will be happy enough with that and play the long game. Putin rattled the cage of the European NATO members and they need time to pull out of their post Soviet sure it's all graaaand funk). EU membership might be on the table, but it's a table as long as the ones in Putin's Kremlin and all the main actors know it. Ukraine is a basketcase of corruption and economics that will take years to fix and they won't be getting into the party until they do. America will largely sit back and grumble publicly but they know the overall score too. Money and investment will pour into Ukraine to hopefully fix the place. It was in dire need of it, the vote for Zelenskyy was the Ukrainian hope for it and this horrible war will copperfasten that and the eyes of the world will be on them not to fúck it up.
If nobody starts pressing big red buttons and the war on the ground comes to an uneasy stalemate followed by a withdrawal - and I know this sounds horrid right now at this terrible moment - but this could be the longterm saving of Ukraine and Ukrainians.
Decisive door victory.
Heres the answer https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/military-aircraft-assisting-operation-to-bring-surrogate-babies-born-in-ukraine-to-ireland-1.4816764?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fireland%2Firish-news%2Fmilitary-aircraft-assisting-operation-to-bring-surrogate-babies-born-in-ukraine-to-ireland-1.4816764%3FlocalLinksEnabled%3Dfalse
But with that deal Russia can just get rid of Zelensky in round 2 without opposition.
There will be no Ukranian military to oppose it next time.
Thats the whole point of the deal... its not the end game. It is the means to the end.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/military-aircraft-assisting-operation-to-bring-surrogate-babies-born-in-ukraine-to-ireland-1.4816764?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fireland%2Firish-news%2Fmilitary-aircraft-assisting-operation-to-bring-surrogate-babies-born-in-ukraine-to-ireland-1.4816764%3FlocalLinksEnabled%3Dfalse
Appears Kherson in the south has fallen to the Russians
Looks ominous now for the Ukranians - The Russians are bombing the cities to pulp like Syria , Putin wants to kill them all .
will the reasoning behind their decisions be scrutinised?
You’re really living up to your username there
Well, the Russians made noises in the last 24hrs about Zelensky being the "legitimate leader" of Ukraine. Raised a few eyebrows did that. Honestly if the deal is what you've lined out but Zelensky stays, I'd take that deal all day long.
Humanitarian and logistical, a little bird tells me..
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